The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-17
SOUTH cAaoLINAs PHosPHATes.
Mines In the Region Of the Ashley River
Mining, Washing and Drying.


The whole coast region seems to have
once been the bed Of shallow inland sea-
and over a compact bed OF mari some
forty or more feet m depth there lies de-
post Of phosphate OF Line from eighteen
10 thirty-six inches thick. This is Just be-
low the recent soil and sand. II Is reached
by stripping the surface till at depth OF
fifteen To twenty inches the deposit Is
found The phosphate is in the form OF
nodular concretions, from the size OF ones
head down TO coarse gravel, about 90 per
cent OF IL being sand and marshy humus.
This Is loaded on to tramway cars and
hauled ON an inclined road To the top OF
the washing house. From the cars It Is
dumped into long troughs-inverted pyra-
mids-at the bottom Of which are large re-
volving shafts armed with steel teeth,
which serve to break the large humps into
smaller ones and retura the whole into
lower troughs. in which reyOlye other
shafts armed with paddles, sprally
arranged, 10 carry the phosphate forward
and deliver il on 10 screen inclined at an
ANGLE Of forty-five degrees, from which 1t
falls 10 the floor. During all this time II
is treated with sprays Of water, and the
dirt and sand are borne of in contrary
direction bya suitable reverse slant in the
troughs.
The damp but clean phosphate rock is
then shOyeled into baTOws and wheeled
into the upper part Of large brick kilns
about C0xlO0 feet and twenty-five feet
high The Kiln is first prepared by
spreading on the bottoma layer Of washed
phosphate pebbles, two feet thick In
his are laid iron fues to give air, and
over these "A pile Of fire wood southern
p,uci two feet thick and then on this the
phosphate rock is tumbled from the bar
Iuw. above until it reaches ten 10 twelve
zee. thick. about 400 tons TO kin. The
mass then being ignited from the llncs,
burns slowly aud when consumed the
moisture of the pile is driven oil. and the
rock is ready for shipment and sal 10 The
fertilizer establishments, which, b. pro
cesses peculiar to each, treat il with sui
phuric acid 10 free or 10 make more sOlu-
blc the phosphori ac.d il contains It IS
then ready Tor use by the planter
The Two establishments operated by
thi, company produce l2j 900 tons If the
rucs annually Tbs profit 3, somewhere
about 20 per cent on tn capital invested.
The limit of production is only bounded
by ihe dcmand The prices rang from
{ per ton to now about - Pc. ton. Al-
litsi- Of the washed rock shows Dfc.
to 3 PER cent silica, iu form Of CoIrc
white ,and - TO ID per cent lime. :
per ccns phosph0ric acid, - 70 20 per
cent The color o. this curious deposit is
from cream yellow 70 coarse brown
Grunge forming irregular concre' ions its
source is evidently from the marine ami
NAL life which in former geological ages
al0uudei in this then shallow sea. Tie
iosailzcd yertchra aud teeth Of fish and
some aa.mals abound in il gathered
triangular teeth OF sharks measuring 'Our
inches on each side, indicating monster
Of that period that must have been whale
like in size These teeth are as perfect as
when shed. highly polished, with razor
Ike sharp edges lbely serrated
The discovery and development Of 'hese
riches occurred soon after the war. aud
afforded the impoverished people q source
u income and wealth that proved l. be
more valuable than gold mines Negro
J .horors are employed entirely and ore
ionrdof late years tractable, iudusir us,
and work 10 the entire satisfae ton OF thais
employers when treated Justly aud with
consideration There are seven large
mines n this region, the output o. which
goes largely TO Europe Other deposit
are under water and are dredged for bu,
Otherwise are treated as are those OF th
DIS dl-gngs Charleston Is. c. Cor d
mott zee Press